Friday, October 31, 2008

I hope that you all have some lovely masquerades and/or schinnanigans planned for this evening. My friend Justin sent this on to me and I thought that it would be an appropriate way for the Action Direct team to send you off on this year's All Hallow's Eve. Happy Halloween everyone.

Samuel L Jackson announced today that he has signed on to Inglorious Basterds, the latest and greatest Quentin Tarantino movie. You of course all remember his roles in Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, and Kill Bill: Volume II, which I think were some of his best (particularly in Pulp Fiction). Apparently, his role in Inglorious Bastards will be as a narrator, which I know isn't the same as playing a Jule Winnfield character. But I'm still pleased.

I'm a firm believer in rational thinking. And the only rational explanation for this sudden turn of events is that Jackson sat down at his computer last night and read my post yesterday, the muted plea of a disillusioned fan. It's good to know that even the little guy can make a difference.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

If you know the answer, then you'll be interested to hear that Samuel L. Jackson has been cast as Sho'nuff in the upcoming remake of The Last Dragon, an epic tale which follows the path of Bruce Leroy through the streets of New York until his ultimate ascension to the level of... you guessed it... The Last Dragon.

Now, I'm a fan of the original film. And I am excited to see what modern cinematography will do for this legendary piece of americana. But the choice of Samuel Jackson as Sho'nuff raises a few questions as to the credibility of this remake. You'll have to agree that Jackson hasn't exactly been at the pinnacle of his career for quite some time now (that is to say he made seven movies in 2008, none of which I was inclined to see and few of which I even heard about). It seems like he has lost any ability to screen for crappy parts, or, maybe he just doesn't care...? While Christopher Walken is rumored to never turn down a role, be it minor or otherwise, this has only seemed to augment his mystique. Jackson's failure to throw away a crappy script (eg. Snakes on a Trai... er... Plane) has really made me doubt his judgement. I'm a believer in his talent, but come on, are we really supposed to take him seriously?

Anyway, no news on who will be cast as Bruce Leroy as of yet. Keep your eyes peeled for more Last Dragon updates.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

It's been a while since we've posted anything about The Watchmen here on Action Direct. The truth is, after I heard that Fox was trying undermine the whole production I decided to distance myself from it. I was getting too close to the whole thing emotionally, and I just needed some space....

That being said, recently an extended trailer aired during the 2008 Spike TV Scream Awards (which, frankly, does not please me in the least). So if for some reason you just had to miss the Scream Awards, here is the trailer in all its glory.

Things that please me:

Most of what I've been seeing in these trailers is just radical. The Comedian is maybe my favorite character in the footage that I've seen. He looks seriously gritty, which is perfect. I know that I've expressed my worry about Nite Owl in the past, but in the end, he looks freaking awesome too. Basically, as long as they keep their eye on the story and let the CGI play a secondary role rather than the other way around (i.e. the shit they pulled in 300), this has got all the makings for greatness.

Things that concern me:

Alright, so in comic books, spandex are cool. But in real life, they are much more difficult to pull off. I'm excited that they are staying true to the comic art. But let's face it, the comic art in the Watchmen isn't great. I just hope that some of these characters don't come off as cheesy (i.e. The Riddler in Batman and Robin).

I also hope that the guy they got to play Ozymandias pulls it off. He needs to be someone who can exude intelligence and confidence, but not be overtly arrogant about the whole thing. Matthew Goode, the actor cast as Ozymandias, looks a little young. He's going to have to convince me that while he's young, he's also wise beyond his years and crazy enough to want to destroy the world.

Friday, October 24, 2008

Who among you was blown away, or at least mildly impressed by Ong-Bak: Thai Warrior's flying elbows and generally kick-ass action? I remember seeing the trailer and being really pumped, and then seeing the movie and thinking, "Well, it wasn't as good as the trailer made it out to be. But it was pretty damn good. And did you see those 'bows fly?"

The trailer for Ong-Bak 2 has left me feeling much as the first did, except that I am now expecting to be unimpressed by the plot and even more blown away by the action. I just hope there are at least 50% as many flying elbows in the second installation, since, as you might have gathered from this entry, I think they were the strongest aspect of the first.

PS- I realize that my absence from the blog has been difficult both emotionally and spiritually for many of you. For this, I apologize. I can only hope that you will forgive me and enjoy the few entries that we do post here on Action Direct.

Friday, October 17, 2008

There are not many things that make me lose sleep at night, but this picture combines the two real fears I harbor in my day to day life:

1. John McCain/Sarah Palin taking over the White House for the next 4 years.

2. The one devastating problem we as a society/species have no solution for: Zombies.

As we see clearly illustrated in the picture here, no one, not even a high powered politician is exempt from the dangers of turning into a member of the undead. And believe me friends, it only takes one poor, infected being to set off a turn of events that could turn this beautiful, albeit a little crazy world into an apocalyptic nightmare of such proportions it could extinguish life as we know it. In an effort to educate and hopefully prepare our readers for an upcoming event such as this, I would like to brainstorm on the best places to hide out during a class 4 (cross continental) zombie outbreak. Some items to consider-

1. Safety of course is key. Are there walls? Is it easily defendable by only a few members of your party?

2. Sustenance. Can you plant a garden? Purify water? How do you sustain life in your zombie fortress?

3. Opportunity for growth. If you are stuck in this fortress for decades, it is highly possible that you will take on other survivors and that children will be born and raised within your fortress walls. How will you account for growth of the party?

4. Location. How will the temperature and climate affect your fortress? If the fortress is outgrown or overrun, what will you fall back on to escape? Are you near an ocean for marine travel? Can you survive an arduous trek across a hot desert?

These are a a scant few items to consider when choosing your hideout. And just to illustrate how quick and devastating a zombie outbreak can be, I offer you this dramatization of a zombie take over (courtesy of Zach Snyder's 2004 remake of "Dawn of the Dead").